Copper is an interesting substrate for HTS coated conductors for its low cost compared to other metallic substrates, and for its low resistivity. Nevertheless, mechanical properties and resistance to oxidation should be improved in order to use it as substrate for YBCO deposition by non-vacuum techniques. Therefore, different cube textured CuNi tapes were prepared by RABIT as possible substrates for deposition of high critical current density YBCO films. Under the optimised conditions of deformation and annealing, all the studied CuNi alloys (2%, 5%, and 10% Ni) presented (100)<001> cube texture which is compatible for YBCO deposition. Textured CuNi alloys present higher tensile strength than pure copper. Oxidation resistance of CuNi tapes under different oxygen atmospheres was also studied by thermogravimetric analysis and compared to pure copper tapes. Although the presence of nickel improves mechanical properties of annealed copper, it does not improve its oxidation resistance. However, when a chromium buffer layer is electrodeposited on the tape, oxygen diffusion is slowed down. Chromium is, therefore, useful for protecting copper and CuNi alloys from oxidation although its recrystallisation texture, (110), is not suitable for coated conductors.